National Geographic magazine is the global leader in empowering people to navigate the world, providing authoritative, unbiased content that addresses today's complex issues, while uncovering the wonders of our time.
National Geographic Magazine (nationalgeographic.com) has 440 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 2.2 out of 5.
Also known as
nationalgeographic.com
Website
nationalgeographic.com
Category
Books & Magazines
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
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The company replied to 30% of reviews.
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Most recent review: October 2026.
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I paid a subscription for "Our mathematical World" and have been trying to stop it ever since! They charge my credit card and send the issue but they CANNOT be contacted to stop. I have now instructed the bank to not allow further charges which they have done.
I was then sent an email by Nat Geog asking me to ring a number (0344 472 5238). This is a scam number. Its never manned!!
My advice - do not subscribe because once you do - you cannot get away
JT
Jonathan T.
They simply won't accept payment.
I ordered a subscription (I'm UK-based) some time around May (can't remember exactly) this year after getting an offer via email because I was previously subscribed to the magazine a few years ago. I got a response stating that my first issue would arrive in no more than 3 months. Sure enough, I got the August issue through my door - so far so good - however, this remains the first and only issue I ever received. After not receiving my next issue I began to wonder why and then I got a 'payment failed' notification through the post with seemingly simple instructions to rectify the payment error online (always my choice of method for the simplicity). This failed due to the online form not allowing some boxes to be selected which were required (country!).
Following this I emailed customer service with my problem and got a fairly helpful response saying that my payment was rejected and that I should try another card. I questioned this in my response since this is pretty much the only payment I've ever had fail, and I probably do 10s of online transactions per month and 100s throughout the course of any year - all with the same card. With that in mind I flat out refuse to accept that my bank rejected the payment and the truth is that National Geographic have a simply awful payment system - very disappointing for a global publication who's content I'm very interested in. I also told the member of the customer service team that I didn't even have another card / credit card because it was pointless for my lifestyle and I don't like to accrue unnecessary debt / interest.
After getting nowhere I eventually called a call centre where a helpful young man took me through the payment process after I explained the situation to him. He said the payment had been processed and I thought the issue would be resolved. It gets to October and sure enough what do I receive (clue - it's not an issue of National Geographic)? That's right - a notification of failed payment!
At this point I am all but done trying to subscribe to this magazine I once loved, and I refuse to pay for it at retail price every month for more than double the price over the course of the year simply because of their highly flawed payment system. I wholeheartedly believe the customer service was sincere and good, however, they're battling against a system that is against them and I pity them for that.
National Geographic - get this sorted out, it's pathetic.
CH
Cole H.
They won't accept any payment.
I took out a national geographic subscription in February through their website. It is now August, I haven't received anything except letters telling me my payment has been rejected. When trying to pay online all you get is a payment failed notification. I have tried 4 different cards, 2 debit and 2 credit, on 4 different computers, none worked. I have sent the giro slip they sent me through the post twice, with 1 debit card and 1 credit card. I have tried paying over the phone twice, finally, they told me it was accepted, until today when I received another letter telling me the payment was rejected, claiming my bank told them to stop payment...
I rang up again, for the third time, and was told that most of the time debit cards are rejected, I have never had a problem paying for anything by debit card, but now, National Geographic-magazine don't take debit cards. I was told to try a credit card, despite already trying multiple times. They refused to accept they were at fault, blaming the bank for the issue, despite the fact 4 different cards from 4 different financial institutions wouldn't work.
Just to add, I have now rang 2 of the banks involved and both say that they have never rejected payment to national geographic, and can't see any instance where national geographic even approached to take the money.
MC
Martin C.
It's beyond pathetic that a global …
It's beyond pathetic that a global magazine with such wonderful content can be so appallingly managed in terms of the subscriptions. I tried to buy a subscription for my niece who lives in the US as a Christmas present in December 2016. It's now 11th April and I've had to call them 6 times, sent 7 emails, given my payment details 4 times and still they refuse to even respond to a single email. Far and away the most astonishingly poor customer service I've ever encountered
DF
Diane F.
The subscription that won't die
I innocently clicked a link to get a great price on a subscription. Instead of the great price, I was charged the regular price. I was then told to sign up again in a particular way to get the great price. Instead, I was charged again (which I'd been assured wouldn't happen). So instead of a great price, I paid double the price. Now I'm trying to cancel before auto-renew occurs. I tried calling, but the phone number only connected me to myself (I could hear the sounds in the room amplified over my phone). I find I can't type any actual words to Customer Service, I can only check a box and press "enter." I received an auto-reply assigning an "incident number" and saying "Your message will be forwarded to a representative as soon as possible for review." NO ONE NEEDS TO REVIEW IT, they just need to cancel the subscription!! My new hobby is warning the public to stay away from National Geographic subscriptions.
PA
Peter A.
Déçu
Ma fille me faisait un cadeau en m'offrant tous les ans un abonnement annuel à la revue de National Géographique.
L'année dernière ne recevant plus ma revue mensuelle, j'ai appelé le service en France. Ils me disent que l'abonnement n'a pas été réglé, or ma fille me dit qu'elle a bien envoyé le chèque et que ce dernier a été débité.
Malgré les courriers, aucune réponse. Par téléphone, on me demande de prouver ce que je dis.
Il est clair que l'équipe National Géographique en France n'a rien cherché de son côté.
C'est bien dommage et cela démontre le mépris avéré de l'abonné français.
J'appelle cela du petit travail. Gardez donc votre revue, il y en a d'autres du même niveau en made in France.
GUILLET R.